My Cauliflower with Roasted Butternut Sauce makes the traditional comfort food lighter and an easier way towards your five a day. Vegan.
I love comfort food at this time of year. When the days draw in and grow colder, I want to wrap up in a warm blanket and tuck into a dish of something warming.
But that doesn't mean that I want unhealthy food. I love finding ways to get more veg into a meal, so I used the natural creaminess of butternut squash to act as the 'cheese sauce' for this cauliflower cheese. Instead of butter and flour to thicken it, I slowly roasted the squash to bring out it's best sweet flavours, then pureed it with a few extra flavour goodies.
The result is a dreamy, creamy blanket atop my beloved cauliflower. It's a wonderful side dish or even on it's own. You'll be quickly on your way to getting your five-a-day - and I promise that you won't miss the cheese.
This Butternut Squash Cheese Sauce is also really tasty on steamed broccoli. We also love serving it on parmentier potatoes. They're roasted cubed potatoes that are easy to make.
Get the recipe for Cauliflower with Roasted Butternut Sauce
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Cauliflower with Roasted Butternut ‘Cheese’ Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 small butternut squash peeled and deseeded (approx 500g)
- 2 tbsp olive oil divided
- 1 onion diced
- 1 clove garlic finely chopped
- 1 tsp thyme leaves optional, plus extra to garnish
- 250 ml vegan milk (soy, almond, oat etc...)
- Salt and pepper
- 1 head cauliflower
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 220C/430F.
- Cut the squash into small chunks, toss with 1 tbsp of the olive oil and spread out on the baking tray. Roast for 15 minutes or until soft.
- Heat the remaining oil in a frying pan over a med/low heat and gently fry the onion until soft and translucent. Add the garlic and thyme and cook for a further minute.
- When the squash is cooked, add it to a blender or food processor, along with the onions and milk. Whiz until smooth and creamy, taste and season if necessary. If the sauce seems too thick, add a little extra vegan milk to thin.
- Cut the cauliflower florets into large pieces, then steam over a pan of simmering water until cooked.
- Pour desired amount of the sauce over the cauliflower and serve with thyme leaves to garnish.
- Save any leftover sauce for another meal in the fridge or allow it to cool and freeze. This is a lovely side dish for a roast dinner or served alongside a hot salad.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.
nadalie bardowell
This sounds absolutely tasty! I never liked cheese whiz on my broccoli I much preferred them plain. I think it would go very well with cauliflower though. I would love to make this but alter the ingredients to make it vegan friendly.
Dannii
I love using butternut squash to make cheesy sauces and this looks delicious and comforting.
Moipone
Wow interesting, could really liven up the dull cauliflower. Thanks for sharing
jhilmil
That butternut sauce is killing me outrightly. It looks such a good option for dinner, shall definitely make it this weekend for my whole family. thanks for sharing
jhilmil
That butternut sauce is killing me outrightly. It looks such a crunchy option for dinner, shall definitely make it this weekend for my whole family.
Kate Hackworthy
I hope you enjoy it!
Chandresh
We are always in search for good vegan receipe and this own looks tempting ... Worth try this festive season : ..
Evelyn @PathofPresence
I never knew cauliflower can take pretty photos! The recipe sounds great & I learned about A2 milk. In all, excellent post! Off to ask the kids if they’d want it for Thanksgiving ????????????Thanks
Margaret Gallagher
Absolutely delicious
Family loved this yesterday
Certainly will be making this again
Natasha
This looks amazing. I haven't made any dishes with cauliflower...I'd love to give this a try!
danasia fantastic
This looks so good! I'm a huge fan of cauliflower, but find it bland at times.
Amy Dong
This looks like something I'd love to try this fall! I LOVE butternut squash and cauliflower, so I'm sure I'd adore both together.
Kate Hackworthy
They are great together! Let me know if you try it!
Aine
That looks so good, perfect for a winter side dish!
Victoria
This looks so delicious, I am such a fan of cauliflower and this is just perfect
Kate Hackworthy
I love cauliflower as well. So versatile!
Deimarys
I have never EVER tasted cauliflower but this sauce makes me feel tempted! Verry easy to prep and healthy! Thanks for the printable
Rose
The dish is very pretty. I have been seeing a lot of butternut squash recipes but my knowledge of using them was very basic so I'm excited! I look forward to trying this sauce.
Kate Hackworthy
I hope you like it! Let me know how it goes.
Ola
Okay so I really need to try this recipe. I love making roasted cauliflower, but I need a new take on an old standby. This just might do the trick.
chefkreso
Roasted butter cheese looks lovely and I would absolutely top even broccoli with it, not just cauliflower!
Kate Hackworthy
Oh yes, it would be great on broccoli!
Dada
Omg look at that butternut sauce, soo silky! Being married to a Swiss I am sure he would ask me to sprinkle some Gruyere cheeze over it and let it grill in the oven for a couple of minutes!????
Kate Hackworthy
Ha, yes I bet he would! It is really silky - the butternut is great for that
Tasheena @ SimplyTasheena.com
You did an amazing job with the dish. I can''t wait to try this recipe at home for my family.